How did the Baroque taste? The interpretation of dessert banquet table in service a la française style at Konopiště Chateau and its anthropological context
Abstract
Baroque for most of us is embodied by dynamic robust architecture, emotional frescoes and sculptures, or polyphonic music. But not many of us can imagine how this period of 17th and 18th century was reflected in the culture of dining and table setting. Just as the spires of Baroque churches soar up their curves to the sky, and their emotive frescoed domes resounded with powerful tones of polyphonic masses and oratorios, so the Baroque banquet table with it carried a strong monumentality and pomp.And so it is possible to boldly compare a Baroque banquet table with a Baroque building or garden.
Perhaps this loss of our current awareness of Baroque dining is due to the fact that the food was eaten, the dishes washed, the music is over, the guests left.
The transience of table culture is great and cannot be compared to the durability of buildings, paintings or music. Many Baroque palaces, churches, gardens and paintings or frescoes have been preserved to this day. But 18th century tableware exists only sporadically.
Nevertheless, on the occasion of this year's Year of the Enlightenment nobility, we tried to resurrect at least a fraction of the forgotten Baroque table setting in Konopiště dining room. And what more? We've tried to resurrect some Baroque tastes and flavours as well.